Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of cochineal, carminic acid, carmines (E 120) as a food additive

Cochineal, carminic acid, carmines (E 120) have been previously evaluated by JECFA and by the SCF. Both committees established an ADI of 5 mg/kg bw/day. The Panel noted that the title of the EC specifications for E 120 does not adequately correspond to the specified food additive and therefore, proposes to modify it to “E 120 cochineal extract, carminic acid and carmines”, which would more accurately reflect the material used. The Panel also noted that the specifications need to be updated with regard to the maximum limits for certain toxic elements present as impurities, to ensure that E 120 will not be a significant source of exposure to these toxic elements in food. No ADME studies on cochineal extract, carminic acid or carmines were available for evaluation, but indirect evidence suggests that carmines are absorbed and distributed in the body. Acute, short-term, subchronic, carcinogenicity, reproduction and developmental toxicity studies conducted in rats or mice did not show toxicological potential. Consideration of the available information regarding genotoxicity indicated that carminic acid is not genotoxic. The Panel concluded that the present dataset does not give reason to revise the ADI of 5 mg carmine (containing approximately 50 % carminic acid)/kg bw, allocated by the SCF in 1983. The Panel concluded that this ADI should be expressed as carminic acid content, which would correspond to 2.5 mg carminic acid/kg bw/day. The Panel considered that, since no threshold dose can be established for allergic reactions, it is advisable that exposure to the eliciting allergens, such as proteinaceous compounds, in E 120 is avoided by introducing appropriate purification steps in the manufacturing process. Refined exposure estimates show that exposure to E 120 for the non-brand-loyal scenario, is below the ADI of 2.5 mg carminic acid/kg bw/day for all population groups.